The “Majestic” 3-ton sunfish establishes a new record for the heaviest bony fish ever found.

A new study has revealed that a 6,000-pound giant sunfish found dead in the Azores is the heaviest bony fish ever recorded.

Researchers stand next to the 6,000 pound giant sunfish after it was discovered floating lifeless on the ocean surface.

A gigantic, 3-ton sunfish recently discovered near a Portuguese island has set a new world record for the heaviest bony fish ever recorded, according to a new study.

The scale-tipping behemoth, known as a giant sunfish or bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini), was discovered on Dec. 9, 2021 as it floated lifelessly off the coast of Faial Island, in the Azores — a Portuguese group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Local authorities scooped up the hefty carcass and took it back to port so it could be properly studied, according to a statement from the Atlantic Naturalist Association, a non-profit conservation and research organization based on Faial Island.

Researchers carried out a necropsy on the giant sunfish and detailed the results in a new study, published Oct. 11 in the Journal of Fish Biology (opens in new tab). The humongous fish was around 12 feet (3.6 meters) tall and around 11 feet (3.5 m) long, and it weighed a hefty 6,049 pounds (2,744 kilograms), or approximately 3 tons (2.7 metric tons). The researchers also analyzed the sunfish’s stomach contents and took samples of its DNA, according to the statement.

The dead fish is a truly “majestic specimen,” study lead author José Nuno Gomes-Pereira, a marine biologist at the Atlantic Naturalist Association, told Live Science in an email. The pictures of its corpse don’t do justice to how incredible it must have appeared in the water, he added.

The previous world record for the heaviest bony fish was held by another giant sunfish caught in Japan in 1996, which weighed around 5,070 pounds (2,300 kg), according to Guinness World Records

Researchers weigh the giant sunfish using  mechanical winch.  (Image credit: Atlantic Naturalist Association)

Sunfish are named not from their circular body shape but because they bask in the sunlight at the ocean surface, which scientists believe is how they re-heat themselves after long dives into cold, dark waters in search of food, according to the statement.

Giant sunfish have previously been misclassified as unusually large individuals of the more common ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which grow to around half the size of the recently discovered juggernaut. M. alexandrini was classified as a unique species in 2018, thanks to a study published in the journal Ichthyological Research.

In June, fishers in Cambodia reeled in the world’s heaviest freshwater fish, a 13-foot-long (4 m) giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis) that weighed a hefty 661 pounds (300 kg).

Related Posts

A dog finds his forever home after spending 11 years at a shelter, and his smile says it all.

“We’re not daunted by the act of waiting; it’s the ᴜnргedісtаЬɩe duration of that wait that truly unnerves us. Today, let’s acquaint ourselves with Pitufo, an unnoticed…

Warm affection: An adopted dog’s genuine love shines through as he sheds tears during his first contact with his owner’s pup (Video)

In a heartwarming and adorable encounter, a frozen dog experienced an emotional moment when he was allowed to hold a newborn baby in his lap. The touching…

An Indian man’s daily dinner includes live lizards as a special dietary option (Video)

In a truly astonishing and unsettling turn of events, a man finds himself willingly harboring hundreds of geckos within his own body. Initially horrified by the idea,…

A distraught mother dog, helpless and unable to stand, lay there making desperate cries for help to protect her vulnerable puppies!!!

In a heart-wrenching tale that showcases the resilience and compassion of the human spirit, we delve into the story of a stray dog who embarked on a…

Dog celebrates first birthday with tears of joy in 15 years

The aging dog had been a loyal and loving companion to its owner for a remarkable 15 years, so when the owner decided to celebrate its birthday,…

The warmth of the baby is protected in sleep by devoted dogs and the cuteness creates beautiful memories

While dogs are known for their affection and loyalty, have you ever witnessed one becoming a caregiver to a young human? In a touching video, two delightful…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *